Honoring local advertising professionals and leaders! AAF Tucson recognizes the best in advertising through several awards and award programs, including the national ADDY® Awards competition. Well-respected and recognized in the local advertising industry, these prestigious accolades salute our industry's best and brightest.

Individual award nomination forms can also be downloaded from our Special Awards page, which lists each of our latest winners.  

Silver Medal Award

Annually, AAF Tucson bestows this honor upon members who have made outstanding contributions to advertising. The American Advertising Federation's Silver Medal Award Program was established in 1959 to recognize men and women who have made outstanding contributions to advertising and who have been active in furthering the industry's standards, creative excellence and responsibility in areas of social concern. Annually, AAF's local advertising federations bestow this honor upon outstanding community leaders.

Download AAF Silver Medal Award Nomination Form

Advertising Professional of the Year

Recognizing outstanding contributions to the advertising industry. The Tucson Advertising Professional of the Year is presented in memory of Warren F. Olson, an outstanding Tucson radio sales manager, to a member of our industry for his/her contributions to the Tucson advertising community. The Advertising Professional of the Year is recognized by his/her peers as a model for others, and as an exceptional professional and leader in the field of advertising.

Download Advertising Professional of the Year Nomination Form

AAF Tucson Golden Mic Award

The Golden Mic award was established to recognize local media personalities who have given selflessly of their time to help raise awareness and contributions for area charities. The AAF Tucson Board of Directors annually accepts nominations for this award.

Download AAF Tucson Golden Mic Award Nomination Form

AAF Tucson Golden Pen Award

The Golden Pen Award is presented each year to a member of the advertising, public relations or print media fields for his/her contributions to advertising and the Tucson community through the use of words or drawings. The Golden Pen award winner is recognized by the advertising community, as a model for others, an exceptional professional, a leader in their field and as one who gives their time selflessly to the community and our industry.

Download AAF Tucson Golden Pen Nomination Form

Phyllis Ehlinger Women of Excellence Award

The award recognizes local women who are business owners or executives and who have demonstrated success within their industry, along with a dedication to philanthropy and mentoring. Phyllis Ehlinger was just that. She was the first woman inducted to the local Advertising Hall of Fame when it was established in 1986. She won the prestigious Silver Medal Award in 1983 for her outstanding efforts in the field of advertising and community public service. In 1983, she was the first woman in Tucson recognized as Woman of the Year by AAF District 12. She was inducted into the Arizona Broadcaster Hall of Fame in 2002. This award keeps Phyllis's spirit alive to continue the tradition of excellence among women.

Download Phyllis Ehlinger Women of Excellence Nomination Form

Advertising Hall of Fame

The Advertising Hall of Fame is the most prestigious award bestowed in the advertising industry honoring individuals who have set the standard for advertising excellence. National inductees include such luminaries as David Ogilvy, G.D. and Gertude Crain, Ray Kroc, Mary Wells Lawrence, Jay Chiat and Karl Eller.

Nominees to the Advertising Hall of Fame are judged on the following criteria:

Those men and women who have completed their primary careers, who have distinguished themselves in those careers, who have contributed to the betterment of advertising and its reputation and who have made significant volunteer efforts outside the workplace. (AAF Tucson does not require individuals to have completed their primary career in advertising prior to nomination/induction into the local Advertising Hall of Fame.)

Download Advertising Hall of Fame Nomination Form